Plastic container



Feb. 20, 1968 L. c. WALLS PLASTIC CONTAINER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May2, 1966 FIEl fnz/erzfor: v Zer0y C M125 Feb.-20, 1968 c. WALLS 3,369,687

PLASTIC CONTAINER Filed May 2, 1966 -2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United StatesPatent 3,369,687 PLASTIC CONTAINER Leroy C. Walls, Valparaiso, Ind.,assignor to Lewals Inc., a corporation of Indiana Filed May 2, 1966,Ser. No. 546,891 8 Claims. (Cl. 215) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Theinvention relates to closed containers for storage of foodstuffs and thelike. Portions of a container and a closure member are structurallydesigned so that a pinrality of said containers can be stacked one ontop of the other, whereby the closure can be reversed and used as a basefor the container, whereby the closure when used as a base or as a coverhas elements that prevent leaving a wet ring on a supporting surface andwhereby a specially designed handle member can be assembled and held onthe container by means of the closure when being used as a base.

This invention relates to containers and more particularly to animproved container and closure arrangement for storing, displaying,stacking and serving foodstuffs and the like.

Many different container styles and many different materials have beensuggested for use in storing materials, each one serving a particularfunction or purpose. Relatively few of the current containers aredesigned for more than one purpose, namely, to store food. Of thesecontainers that have more than the one purpose of storing food, thereare one or two that provide covers or lids which can be also used asbases for the container or that provide interlocking portions for use instacking several containers. None of the currently available containersprovide for the combined effect of storing, stacking, serving anddisplaying goods.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improvedcontainer for storing materials such as foods.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved stackingarrangement for containers.

And still another object of this invention is to provide an improvedcontainer for serving stored materials such as foods.

And still a further object of this invention is to provide an improvedcontainer for displaying stored materials such as foods.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved container forstoring, stacking, serving and displaying materials such as foods.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved means forsealing a closure member on a container.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an improved meansfor attaching a closure member on the base of a container to serve as asupport means for the container.

And still a further object of this invention is to provide an improvedcoaction between a part of one closure member and a part of anothercontainer whereby one container can be stacked on another by coactionbetween said parts.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide an improved handlemeans for ready assembly with the container.

And a further object of this invention is to provide means whereby acontainer can be used as a dispenser for condiments.

And yet another object of this invention is to provide improvedretaining means for securing the body member to the closure when saidclosure is acting as the base.

Further objects and advantages will become readily apparent from thefollowing detailed description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical cross sectional view taken through a verticalplane passing through the center of the container of invention;

FIGURE 2 is a cross sectional view showing two of the containers ofFIGURE 1 inverted and stacked one on top of the other;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged broken away sectional view through a portion ofthe combined closure and base member;

FIGURE 4 is a top view of a combined cover and base member;

FIGURE 4A is a broken away end view of a modified form of my invention;

FIGURE 5 is a vertical cross sectional view through a modified form ofstacked containers;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through a connectionbetween the closure and the container;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through a modifiedform of connection between the base and the container; and

FIGURE 8 is a vertical plan view of my improved container with a novelhandle assembled therewith and showing parts broken away and in section.

Referring to the drawings and in particular the form of my inventionshown in FIGURES 1 through 4 inclusive, wherein similar referencenumerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views, acontainer 10 is shown having a parabolically shaped body portion 11 asviewed in vertical cross section with a generally circular shape in ahorizontal plane. The side walls 12 of the body member 11 taper from anopen end 13 to a closed smaller end portion 14. A radially outwardlydirected rib 15 is formed around the outer top edge of the open end 13of the container 10 so as to provide a ledge-like portion extending inan overhanging relation relative to the walls 12 of the container. Aring shaped sleeve member 16 is integrally formed with said body member11 near the closed end 14 and is adapted to project axially beyond thelow part of said end. A radially inwardly directed locking rib 17 isformed around the inner surface of said sleeve so as to provide anoverhanging ledge which produces an undercut portion near the inside 18base of said sleeve 16.

A combined cover and base member 20 is provided with a dish shaped bodyportion 21 having an integrally formed axially extending mounting rim 22formed with the outer edge of said body. The rim 22 extends in the samedirection as the dishing 21 of the member 20 so as to overlap theundersurface of said dish. A radially inwardly directed locking rib 24is formed around the inner lower edge of the rim 22 so as to overhang aportion of said member 20 to provide an undercut portion 25 within saidcover. The combined member 20 is adapted to have the rib 24 on the rim22 snapped over the rib 15 on the body 11 of the container 10 so thatthe rib 15 seats in the undercut portion 25 of the cover to lock thecover to the container.

The mid portion of the dish shaped body of the combined member 20 isoffset downwardly away from the outer surface 26 of the dish shapedportion and has a cylindrical wall 27 which terminates in an arcuatelyshaped center portion or socket member 28. The inside of saidcylindrical wall 27 has a cylindrical surface 29 while the outside ofsaid cylindrical wall 27 has a radially outwardly directed rib 31 formedcontinuously around the outer edge thereof. The rib 31 creates anoverhanging portion with an undercut 32 formed between said rib 31 andthe undersurface of the dish shaped portion 21 of the member 21). On theouter surface 26 of the dish shaped portion of the combined member 2t)is formed at least three lugs 35 which have axially directed surfaces 34lying slightly below the plane of the exposed edge of the member 20.Each lug 35 also has a radially directed face 36 lying substantiallyparallel to the axis. of the combined member 20. The surfaces 36 lie ina circle having a center located at the center line of the combinedmember 20.

At least three axially extending lugs 40 are molded integrally with theouter surface 26 of the dish shaped portion of the combined member 20and extend beyond the plane of said member 219. The lugs 40 have outersurfaces 41 which lie in a common plane, which plane coincides with theplane of a supporting surface when the member 20 is positioned on saidsurface.

The central portion or socket member 28 of the member 20 is adapted tobe snapped into the sleeve 16 on the lower end 14 of the container withthe rib 31 seating in the undercut portion 18 formed by the rib 17 onthe inside of the sleeve 16. With the member 29 snapped in the sleeve16, the container 10 can he stood on a surface with the lugs 4tcontacting a supporting surface. With the member 20 attached to the baseof the container 10, the member 20 acts as a support or base with thecontainer 10 positioned upright for display or for use as a servingreceptacle. With the member 20 connected to the container as a base, itis possible to use another member 20 snapped on the open end 12 as aclosure whereby the container contents can be displayed.

With the member 20 snapped on the open end of the container 10, it ispossible to invert the container to position the container with the feet40 engaging a surface such as a table. An additional container 10 can bestacked on the first container with the sleeve 16 on the first containersnugly fitting within the lugs 35 on the cover member 20 of the secondcontainer. The surfaces 36 of the lugs 35 will engage the outer surfaceof the sleeve 16 so as to hold the containers somewhat interlocked inthe stacked condition. Several containers can be stacked one on top ofthe other for display or storage.

Referring specifically to FIGURE 3, an enlarged cross sectional view ofa portion of the member 20 is shown wherein the feet 40 can be clearlydistinguished as can the rib 24 on the inner surface of the rim 22. Thetapered surfaces on the top and bottom sides of the rib 24 serve asguides to assist the rib on the container 10 slide past the rib 24either as the member is forced onto the open top of the container or asthe member 20 is removed therefrom. With the member 20 in place over theopen end of the container, the rib 15 is positioned in the undercutportion 25 of the member 20. The lugs with the surfaces 36 thereof areshown molded integrally with the dish shaped portion 21 of the member2ft. The rib 31 producing the overhang 32 of the central portion orsocket member 28 is shown in the mid portion of the member 20.

In the closed end 14 of the container 1t and within the confines of thesleeve 16, a plurality of weakened circular parts 43 can be provided asshown in FIGURE 4A. By punching out the parts 43, openings 44 areprovided such that the container can be used as a condiment dispenser.That is, with the container filled with salt (for instance) and themember 20 snapped over the open end 12 thereof, the feet on the member20 of the container can be rested on a surface with the openings 44facing upward. Upon inverting the container the salt (or the like) willbe dispensed in the usual fashion. During manufacture all containerscould have the weakened parts 43 molded therein such that the containerwhen sold can be advertised for use as a condiment dispenser after thepresent contents of the container have been exhausted.

As can be seen in FIGURE 4, the lugs 35 are formed 120 apart with thefeet aligned radially outwardly therewith. It is to be understood thatmore than .three such lugs 35 and 40 could be provided without departingfrom the spirit of my invention.

FIGURE 5 shows a modified form of receptacle wherein a fiat bowl shapedcontainer 50 is illustrated. A combined cover and base member 51 isprovided and has the same locking arrangement for securing the member onthe container 50' either as a base, a cover or as both. Specifically,the bowl 50 has a side wall 52 with a rib 53 about the edge of the openend thereof. A sleeve 54 is formed integrally with the closed end of thebowl and has a smooth outer surface and a rib 56 around the inner edgeof said sleeve.

The combined member 51 has a dish shaped portion 57 with a socketportion 58 axially extending from the center thereof. A rim 59 encirclesthe dish shaped portion 57 and has a rib 60 formed around the insideedge thereof. A rib 62 is formed about the outer edge of the socketportion 58 and is adapted to snap past the rib 56 in the sleeve 54 toposition the member 51 on the container 50 as a base. The rib 60 on therim 59 of the member 51 is adapted to snap past the rib 53 on thecontainer 50 for locking the member 51 over the open end of thecontainer 50 to cover the contents of the container.

Several lugs 64 are formed on the one face of the member 51 to provideabutment surfaces 65 which engage with the outer surface of the sleeve54 on the container so that two covered containers 50 can be stacked oneon the other with the sleeve 54 on one container engaging with thesurfaces 65 on the lugs 64 of the member 51 of another container.

Modified forms of interlocking rib arrangements are shown in FIGURES 6and 7. That is, FIGURE 6 shows a more oval shaped rib 70 on a member 71engaging beneath the rib 72 on a cover member 73 with rib 72 havingslopes 74 formed on the exposed surface of the rib 72 so as to guide theinterlocking rib 7t inwardly until is snaps past the rib 72 and into theoverhanging section whereby the cover is secured to the member.

FIGURE 7 shows a more positive locking arrangement wherein the rib on asleeve 81 of a body member 82 is longer, of uniform thickness, and moreangularly disposed inwardly toward the center of the sleeve 81. Theinterfitting rib or portion 83 of the socket portion 84 of the member 85is shaped to conform more to the internal shape of the rib 80 and has aguide surface 85 formed at an angle to the outer edge of the socket 84.The rib 80 on the sleeve 81 is rounded so as to form a smooth guidingedge as the two ribs 80', 83 are brought together during assembly of themember 85 with the container 82.

FIGURE 8 shows still another form of my invention wherein a handle whichcould be molded or formed is illustrated and has an enlarged ring shapedbody engaging portion 91 which is adapted to encircle and snugly engagethe outer surface of the member 11 of the container it) of FIGURES 14.The lower end portion 92 of the handle 90 is formed integrally with asmall ring shaped member 93 which is adapted to engage around the outersurface of the sleeve 16 on the container 10. The cup shaped portion 93is urged onto the sleeve 16 of the container 10 with the ring 91engaging the tapered body portion of the member 11. A member 20 can besnapped into place on the sleeve 16 by urging the socket member 28 intosaid sleeve with the rib 31 seating underneath the undercut portion 18to retain the member 20 on the container and to lock the handle 90 inposition for use. The member 20 serves as the base upon which thecontainer rests. The handle 90 can be readily removed from the containerby removing the member 20 from the sleeve 16 and by forcing the ringshaped portion 93 and the ring 91 downwardly to disengage the rings 93and 91 from the member 11.

The containers and cover members of the various enrbodiments describedheretofore can be molded or cast by means of any of the well knownmethods currently in use.

The containers and cover members can be made of colored, clear ortranslucent material depending upon the nature of the goods to bepackaged in the container. The material for the containers and covermembers can be selected from any of the well known synthetics or organicmaterials such as plastic. An example of a suitable material is arelatively flexible and stretchable, low-density polyethylene.

It is now believed to be clear that a novel container and cover memberhas been described wherein a container with the cover member attachedover the open end can be stood on the cover member for displaying thecontents thereof, By removing the cover member, turning the cover memberover and attaching it to the other end of the container, the containercan be used as a serving receptacle. By using two cover members, one tocover the open end of the container, and the other snapped on the baseas a support, the container can be employed to display and store thecontainer contents in an upright position.

A plurality of closed containers, i.e., containers with the covermembers in place over the open end of the container, can be stacked oneon top of the other with the socket portion on one container coactingwith the socket portion in the cover member to hold the containers instacked relation.

The feet on the cover member serve to space the cover from a supportingsurface so as to prevent the cover member from leaving a ring shapedstain on a supporting surface due to moisture on the cover member. Whenthe cover member is snapped on the closed end of the container to serveas a base, the rim on said cover member serves to collect moistureeither spilled over the edge of the open end of the container orcollecting and running down the outer surface of the container.

The provision of weakened means in the closed end portion of thecontainer which can be punched out to provide a dispenser opening addsfurther utility to my new and novel container.

It is to be understood that the present disclosure is an exemplificationof the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit theinvention to the embodiments illustrated. The scope of the inventionwill be pointed out in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A container for storing and serving foods comprising in combination abody member having walls tapering from a relatively large open end to agenerally parabolically shaped closed end, a radially directed lockingrib formed about the outer edge of said open end, a ring shaped sleeveintegrally formed with said body member near said closed end andprojecting axially beyond said closed end, a radially inwardly directedlocking rib formed about the inner edge of said sleeve, a combined baseand cover means having a dish shaped body portion, an axially extendingmounting rim integrally formed about the edge of said means inoverlapping relationship to said dish shaped portion, a radiallyinwardly directed locking rib formed on the inner edge of said mountingrim adapted to coact with the rib on said body member for securing themeans on said body member, an axailly directed hub formed integrallywith the center section of the dish shaped portion of said combinedmeans, an overhanging rib formed about the edge of said hub and adaptedto snap past the rib on said sleeve for locking the combined means inplace on the closed end of the body member to serve as a base for saidcontainer.

2. A container as claimed in claim 1 wherein said combined means has aplurality of short radial ribs formed on the face of said dish shapedportion which terminate near the center of said portion to provide aplurality of 6 abutments, and said abutments being adapted to engagewith the outside of a sleeve on another body member for stacking oneclosed container on another.

3. A container as claimed in claim 2 wherein said dish shaped portionhas a plurality of lugs formed on said face thereof which extend beyondthe plane of said portion so as to serve as feet for engaging a surfaceupon which said container stands.

4. A container for storing and serving foods comprising in combination abody member having walls tapering from a relatively large open end to asubstantially smaller closed end, an outwardly directed locking meansformed about the outer edge of said open end, projecting meansintegrally formed with said body member near said closed end andextending beyond said closed end, an inwardly directed locking meansformed about the inner edge of said projecting means, a combined baseand cover means having a dish shaped body portion, a mounting rimintegrally formed about the edge of said combined means in overlappingrelationship to said dish shaped portion, an inwardly directed lockingmeans formed on the inner edge of said mounting rim adapted to coactwith the locking means on said body member for securing the combinedmeans over the open end of said body member, a projecting hub formedintegrally with the center section of the dish shaped portion of saidcombined means, and overhanging means formed about the edge of said huband adapted to snap past the locking means on said projecting means forlocking the combined means in place on the closed end of the body memberto serve as a base for said body member.

5. A container as claimed in claim 4 wherein said dish shaped portionhas short radial lugs formed on the face thereof and terminate near thecenter of said portion to provide at least three abutments, saidabutments being adapted to engage with the outside of the projectingmeans on another body member for stacking one closed container onanother, and a plurality of support means formed near the edge on saidface of said dish shaped portion and extending beyond the plane of saidportion so as to serve as feet for engaging a surface for supporting thecombined means and body member on said surface.

6. A container as claimed in claim 4 wherein a plurality of aperturescan be formed in said body member within said sleeve for dispensingpowdered condiments from said container.

7. A container as claimed in claim 4 having a handle means engaged withsaid container and being locked thereon by said base and cover meansengaging with said projecting means.

8. A container as claimed in claim 4 having a laterally projectinghandle means engaging both the body of the container and said projectingmeans, said base and cover means locked to said projecting means to holdsaid handle means assembled with said container.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,715,169 5/1929 McKee 222-5412,816,589 12/1957 Tupper. 2,996,208 8/ 1961 Schroeder 215-99.5 2,981,5624/1961 Long 215- X 3,080,964 3/1913 Robinson et al. -.5 X 3,140,0077/1964 Nettleship 21510 X 3,183,624 5/1965 Swett 150.5 X

FOREIGN PATENTS 245,219 6/ 1963 Australia.

DONALD F. NORTON, Primary Examiner.

